A Full Rundown Of Russia's Immense Military Acquisitions

Funded by booming oil and gas profits, Russia is in the midst of a huge equipment upgrade backed by Putin's promise to increase military spending by $770 billion from 2014 to 2020.

It sounds like a lot, and it is, the Russian military budget doubled from 2006 to 2009 from $25 billion to $50 billion; but it's still not a tenth of the U.S. defense budget, which averages around $600 billion per year.

Perhaps the most interesting facet of Russian military production is that it's a bit less refined than America's, more burgeoning capitalism than entrenched lobbying with the state.

Private enterprise is exporting sophisticated arms packages and entering into international contracts with foreign powers to enhance already well developed weapons program.

So while this doesn't necessarily bring us to a new Cold War as some suggest, it should keep the U.S. aware that it's not the only player on the world's military stage, and in the end, that can only be a good thing.

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Russia's T-90 main battle tank tank is just as advanced as the America's M1 and costs half as much

The overhaul is remarkable and the fact the T-90 costs anywhere from $2.8 to $4.3 million compared to the M1 Abrams $8.6 million is more remarkable still.

Manufacturer Kartsev-Venediktov has pumped the tank full of electronic warfare capabilities, and it's filled with laser warning receivers, an electronic jamming system and a three-tiered protection system consisting of turret armor, explosive reactive armor and a full countermeasures suite.

Despite the T-90's well advanced status it's only a stop-gap piece. Russia's T-99, coming by 2020, will serve as the new main battle tank, infantry fighting vehicle, and armored personnel carrier.

Production begins of the T-99 begins in 2014.

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The MSTA-S 2S19 can run on six different types of fuel

While this artillery platform is pretty interesting on its own — a 152mm self propelled howitzer that entered service in 1989 — perhaps its most compelling feature is its versatility.

The 2MSTA-S 2S19 offers significant automation with loading and firing, allowing the crew to stay mobile while firing and it can run on six different types of fuel including diesel, gasoline, aviation fuel, and alcohol. Russia has 800 of them as of 2008.

The MSTA has been adapted into a number of different variants which include a wheeled variant, various enhanced versions, a "laser tank" and a prototype which includes dual howitzers.

The Sukhoi T-50 will be Russia's stealth fifth-generation fighter

Currently a prototype T-50, the second model started flight testing in March 2011. Next year, the Defense Ministry plans to buy 10 evaluation aircraft, followed by an initial purchase of 60 jets by 2016.

The service life is projected to be three decades, and this aircraft will likely contend with the the U.S. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jet. Still, the Russians managed to confine development costs to around $10 billion.

Installed on the MiG-35 will be a state-of-the art radar system developed by Phazotron. This fighter is all digital. It should be able to hit Mach 2.25 and has a range of 125 miles. It first flew in 2007.

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The Mi-28 is the most advanced attack helicopter made in Asia — for now

It has got four propellers. It's comparable to the C-130J. The project has had some significant hurdles, with Russia pulling out in 2006 before ordering sixty aircraft in 2010, consistent with the rearmament program for the new decade.

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The Yasen-class of attack submarines will carry up to 32 cruise missiles

It's powered by a nuclear reactor and one is currently in trials after its 2010 launch. The next is expected in the ocean before 2015. It's been describes as state-of-the-art, and costs the Kremlin $1.2 billion each.

While the Borei-class subs will move ballistic missiles around the world, the Yasen is armed with up to thirty two cruise missiles and has ten torpedo tubes. I

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The Bulava, Sineva, and Layner ballistic missiles explain why the Russians are obsessed with submarines

Russia came to the point a few years ago where it designed submarines around ballistic missiles. Right now, three submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) help define Russian naval missile defense.

The Sineva SLBM was introduced in 2007 and has an operational range of 7,100 miles. It's designed to be launched from the Delta IV class submarines, built from 1985 to 1992.

The Bulava SLBM carries a warhead with six 150 kiloton bombs in them. They have an operational range of 6,100 miles, but since they're stocked in the Borei-class submarines that range can be expanded far away from the Russian motherland. They are planned to enter service this year.

The Layner SLBM i s being developed by the Makeyev Rocket Design Bureau. It has got 12 warheads and can allegedly pierce anti-ballistic missile defenses. It should enter service soon. It's designed to augment, not replace the Bulava.

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The Steregushchy-class corvette is the foundation of Russian coastal defense

It has a helicopter hangar, eight torpedo tubes, and 12 cells for surface to air missiles of the S-400 type. The ships are currently undergoing sea-trials. With Russia charging $150 million per export ship, these vessels are a steal for the Russian Navy compared to the United States' planned Littoral Combat Ships which cost $2.4 billion.

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The Gorshkov Frigate is a multi-role ship that will form the core of Russia's future Navy

Right now, Severnaya Verf is building the first three of a planned 15-20 frigates for the Russian Navy. They'll be 425 feet long with a range of 4000 nautical miles.

The plan is to replace the aging Sovremenny destroyers and Burevestnik frigates with the ships. The first frigate — the Gorshkov — was begun in 2006, launched in 2010, and will be commissioned in 2013.

The ships will have advanced radar systems, a 130mm naval gun, Oniks missiles, multiple torpedo tubes, and will hold one helicopter.

Russia focuses on four theaters for their Navy. They have a Northern Fleet, a Baltic Fleet, a Pacific Fleet and a Black Sea fleet.

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The S-400 may be the best air defense system in the world

The S-400 is a massive upgrade to Russia's successful S-300 surface-to-air missile system. While it's only in limited service at this point, its predecessor currently stands as Russia's premiere air defense system.

The S-400 has a range of 250 miles, at least twice that of the United States' MIM-104 Patriot. T hree different missiles are used for various ranges, with the fastest going twelve times the speed of sound. The radar can track 100 targets at once.

With this system, even some of the most elite attacking aircraft are at risk.

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The S-500 is definitely going to be the best air defense system in the world

The radar systems have been improved from the S-400, and most of the equipment will be derived from the S-300 family. It's supposed to be a highly mobile system. Again, details are loose, but this could be a serious game-changer.

The most interesting take away: This isn't designed to defend from a U.S. ballistic missile attack.

As China builds up their ICBM range, this is likely insurance against either a souring of relations between Moscow and Beijing or the spread of Chinese ICBMs to less-predictable countries.

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The Iskander-M missile system replaces the SCUD as the go-to tactical ballistic missile

The Pantsir-S1 is one of the most sophisticated and compact air defense systems in Russia

The Pantsir S-1 i s one incredible system. It combines both medium-range Surface-to-air missiles with anti-aircraft artillery and the most sophisticated radar system available in a single compact package.

Produced beginning in 2008, it's effective against aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles. Russia is even installing it on their aircraft carrier.

Pantsir carries twelve missiles, each with an operational range of 12 miles. The main selling point of the Pantisir is the phase-array radar, which has 360 degree coverage amd a detection range of 20 miles. It can track 20 targets simultaneously.

Russian skies are safe from incoming threats.

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Topol is Russia's first new ICBM since the Soviet breakup

Produced beginning in 1994, the Topol-M Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) packs a single 800 kiloton warhead and is propelled by a three-stage solid propellant. It has an operational range of 6,800 miles and travels at 22 times the speed of sound.

The Topol can be launched from either a reinforced missile silo or a transporter.

Even more, the Topol is being developed to sustain Multiple Re-entry vehicles (MIRV), which would allow multiple warheads to be transported by a singe rocket.

The beleaguered START treaty would have Russia replace their existing MIRV ICBMs with ICBMS with a single warhead. Don't hold your breath.